CDE Lightband (Clarksville Department of Electricity) Rate Selection Guide
CDE Lightband is the municipal electric utility serving roughly 85,000 customers in Clarksville, Tennessee. As a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) distributor, it offers no retail supplier choice, and it provides usage and billing data through the NISC SmartHub platform with Green Button (ESPI) downloads.
CDE Lightband (Clarksville Department of Electricity) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 (440) | Small Commercial | $0.13117/kWh energy; $38-$53 customer charge | Small businesses under 60 kW / 15,000 kWh |
| GSA-2 (550) | Commercial (demand-billed) | $0.11192/$0.07724 per kWh; $6.28-$15.89/kW demand; $190 customer | Mid-size commercial 60-1,000 kW |
| GSA-3 (554/555) | Large Commercial/Industrial | $0.08243/kWh; $15.89/kW demand; $750 customer | Large industrial loads 1,000-5,000 kW |
Market Overview
CDE Lightband is a municipal distributor of TVA wholesale power operating in a fully regulated, bundled market. Retail rates are set by the utility board under TVA wholesale parameters. Tennessee has no retail electric competition, so C&I customers cannot shop for a competitive supplier.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the CDE Lightband (Clarksville Department of Electricity) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
CDE Lightband publishes retail rates by schedule on its Rates & Fees page. The figures below are the verified June 2026 retail rates for commercial and industrial GSA schedules, sourced directly from the utility's published rate table. GSA-2 and GSA-3 carry demand charges. Rates reflect TVA wholesale power costs.
Effective: June 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSA-1 (440) Small Commercial | commercial | Commercial accounts 0-60 kW or less than 15,000 kWh/month. | Verified June 2026: Customer charge $38.00 (0-500 kWh) / $53.00 (over 500 kWh); Energy $0.13117/kWh (all kWh); Grid Access Charge $4.00 (0-500 kWh), $6.00 (501-3,000 kWh), $19.25 (over 3,000 kWh). | — |
| GSA-2 (550) Commercial | commercial | Commercial accounts between 60 kW and 1,000 kW or greater than 15,000 kWh/month. | Verified June 2026: Customer charge $190.00; Energy $0.11192/kWh (first 15,000 kWh) then $0.07724/kWh (additional); Demand $6.28/kW (0-50 kW) and $15.89/kW (51-1,000 kW). | — |
| GSA-3 (554/555) Large Commercial | industrial | Large commercial/industrial accounts greater than 1,000 kW up to 5,000 kW. | Verified June 2026: Customer charge $750.00; Energy $0.08243/kWh (all kWh); Demand $15.89/kW across 0-1,000 kW and 1,001-5,000 kW tiers. | — |
| Distributed Generation Interconnection | commercial | C&I customers interconnecting on-site generation (e.g., solar). | Verified June 2026 fees: $250 application (<50 kW DC), $500 (>50 kW DC); $50/month generation metering & TVA reporting fee when TVA requires interval reporting. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Mid-size commercial facility (60-1,000 kW)
Office, retail, or light-industrial sites on GSA-2 where demand charges drive cost.
GSA-2 demand charges reach $15.89/kW above 50 kW, so peak management is the biggest lever. The first 15,000 kWh is billed at $0.11192 and additional kWh at $0.07724, rewarding high load factor.
- Pull Green Button 15-minute data to find demand peaks
- Stagger HVAC/equipment startup to flatten peaks
- Track monthly billed kW vs. actual load factor
Large industrial plant (1,000-5,000 kW)
Manufacturing or large institutional loads on GSA-3.
GSA-3 offers the lowest energy rate ($0.08243/kWh) but a flat $15.89/kW demand charge and $750 customer charge. Maximizing load factor and minimizing coincident peak demand yields the largest savings.
- Implement automated peak-demand control
- Evaluate on-site generation/solar with DG interconnection
- Use interval data for continuous demand monitoring
Small business (under 60 kW / 15,000 kWh)
Small commercial accounts on GSA-1.
GSA-1 has no demand charge but a higher energy rate ($0.13117/kWh) plus tiered Grid Access Charges. Reducing total kWh is the primary cost lever.
- Prioritize lighting and HVAC efficiency to cut kWh
- Watch the 3,000 kWh Grid Access Charge tier ($19.25)
- Reassess schedule if load approaches 60 kW
Data-driven energy team / consultant
C&I energy managers or consultants needing interval data for analytics.
15-minute Green Button XML enables demand-charge attribution and verification of billed kW. Automated feeds require a custom arrangement with Business Sales.
- Export ESPI XML (not hourly CSV) for 15-minute resolution
- Request custom integration for multi-site portfolios
- Reconcile billed demand against interval peaks monthly
Historical Rate Trends
CDE Lightband retail rates track TVA wholesale power costs and are published monthly on the Rates & Fees page (the table shown is the June 2026 retail rate). As a TVA distributor, monthly retail rates incorporate TVA's wholesale and fuel cost adjustments.
Overall trend: Rates move with TVA wholesale and fuel cost adjustments, published monthly.
Next expected change: Reviewed monthly per the published retail rate table; tied to TVA wholesale rate changes.
Cost Optimization Strategies
Because there is no supplier choice, C&I cost optimization at CDE Lightband centers on rate-schedule fit, demand (kW) management, load shifting, and TVA efficiency incentives.
Demand (kW) management
For: GSA-2, GSA-3 accounts
On GSA-2 and GSA-3, demand charges ($6.28-$15.89/kW) are a major cost. Use 15-minute interval data to identify and stagger peak loads, reducing billed demand.
Rate-schedule verification
For: All C&I
Confirm the account is on the lowest-cost applicable schedule as load and kWh change; GSA-1 vs GSA-2 thresholds (60 kW / 15,000 kWh) materially affect billing structure.
TVA EnergyRight incentives
For: All C&I
Use TVA EnergyRight for Business & Industry assessments and incentives to fund efficiency upgrades that lower kWh and demand.
Peak Project participation
For: All accounts
Enroll in demand response to curtail during peak events, supporting lower community rates and aligning with demand reduction goals.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download CDE Lightband (Clarksville Department of Electricity) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a commercial customer or energy consultant get interval data from CDE Lightband?▾
Yes. C&I customers can self-export up to 14 months of interval data via Green Button Download My Data in SmartHub (15-minute resolution in ESPI XML, hourly in CSV). For automated or structured feeds, contact Business Sales at (931) 553-7333. Consultants need written customer authorization.
Does CDE Lightband offer Green Button Connect My Data (automated third-party access)?▾
It is not publicly documented. The underlying NISC SmartHub platform supports Connect My Data via OAuth, but CDE has not published enrollment procedures. Confirm directly with the utility for ongoing automated access.
Which rate schedules apply to commercial and industrial accounts?▾
GSA-1 serves small commercial (0-60 kW or under 15,000 kWh), GSA-2 serves commercial loads between 60 kW and 1,000 kW (or over 15,000 kWh), and GSA-3 serves large commercial/industrial loads above 1,000 kW up to 5,000 kW. GSA-2 and GSA-3 carry demand charges.
Can C&I customers in Clarksville choose a competitive electricity supplier?▾
No. As a TVA distributor in Tennessee, CDE Lightband is the sole electricity provider; there is no retail choice. C&I customers optimize costs through rate-schedule selection, demand management, and TVA EnergyRight efficiency programs rather than supplier shopping.
How far back does billing and usage history go?▾
The SmartHub portal retains about 12 months of billing history and up to 14 months of interval usage via Green Button. Extended history may be available on request from the utility.
Does CDE Lightband support EDI for C&I data exchange?▾
No. CDE Lightband does not offer formal EDI (X12 814/867/810/820) services. C&I customers requiring automated data should use Green Button XML or discuss a custom integration with Business Sales.
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